Argyle Brewing Company India Pale Ale (IPA)

Argyle Brewing Company is the first farm brewery to open in Washington County, NY. Ironically, Argyle takes its name from the “dry” town that one of the owners hails from. Their beer is brewed down the road in neighboring Greenwich, NY since “a successful brewery needs to sell its product.” The founders chose the name in order to pay homage to the hard working farmers and factory workers of Argyle. Their concept of sourcing hops and barley locally will help to bolster the surrounding farms and economy, befitting for a company that was born of local pride. I was unaware…

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North Fork Wines Take A Field Trip To Racines NY BYO Mondays

If you’ve suffered through my cooking, you know there’s certainly no meal coming from my kitchen that’s worthy of a special bottle of wine. In fact, drinking something quickly is your best method of defense. I tend to hoard long-held vintages or the Brunello procured on a magical vacation for an event where corkage is appropriate or find that rare BYOB restaurant of a certain caliber. Occasionally, I miss a drinkability window and I curse my principals and wish I’d just opened that bottle with a takeout turkey burger. Having the luxury of endless access to Long Island wine, they…

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Weekly New York Wine News — February 9, 2015

NEWS Observer Review – 2/3/2015 -A group of more than 100 area businesses has written a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in opposition of Crestwood’s proposed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage project in salt caverns along Seneca Lake. Examiner.com – 2/5/2015 The Shawangunk Wine Trail announced the new “Hudson Valley Wine Tasting Passport” that covers each of the Trail’s 14 members wineries. The Telegram – 2/6/2015 Winemakers experimenting with native grapes yield interesting results. “I recently tasted the Cuvée d’Amour 2011 from the Dr. Konstantin Frank winery in the Finger Lakes region of New York, which is made from their own…

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Corin Hirsch to Cover the Hudson River Valley for NYCR

Today I’m happy to announce that Corin Hirsch, a writer and beverage lover I met a few years ago at TasteCamp, has joined the NYCR team. Corin is an enthusiastic drinker, a history geek, and a freshly minted resident of the Hudson Valley, though she grew up in a cul-de-sac on Long Island. Before she joined the white-collar ranks, she worked as a used book buyer, hot-dog-hawker, sandwich maker, and barmaid, the last at a 16th-century pub in rural England. She’s spent almost her entire professional life in publishing — as a reporter, editor, designer, and art director. For the…

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Medolla Vineyards 2004 Merlot

It’s rare that one can go buy a fully mature Long Island wine right off the shelf, but Medolla Vineyards offers that opportunity with the current release Medolla Vineyards 2004 Merlot ($19). Yes. 2004. Current. Release. The Medolla wines are made at Lenz Winery under the watchful eye of Lenz winemaker Eric Fry. The 2002 was one of the most underrated merlots on the North Fork when it was released and the 2007 was a killer value a few years ago when it hit shelves. The 2004 — no doubt given extra time in bottle to even out some of the rustic…

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Weekly New York Wine News — February 2, 2015

NEWS Wine Searcher – 1/28/2015 Beverage lawyer Lindsey Zahn looks at the implications of the confrontation between Empire Wines and the New York State Liquor Authority. Daily Messenger – 1/28/2015 Classes open at the brand new Viticulture Center at Finger Lakes Community College. We Are Seneca Lake – 1/28/2015 Farmers, Chefs, Wine Makers, Bartenders, Restaurant Owners and Finger Lakes Food Lovers Host Protest Banquet at Crestwood Midstream Gate in Continuing Civil Disobedience Campaign Against Seneca Lake Gas Storage. Fox News – 1/28/2015 Luis Garcia, Director of Services for Paige Hospitality Group chooses Herman J. Weimer Riesling as the perfect Super…

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Standing Stone Vineyards 2013 Saperavi

Though originally planted at Standing Stone Vineyards with blending in mind, Saperavi — a cold-hardy grape originally from Georgia (not the state) — has earned co-owner/wine Marti Macinski accolades. And she’s only been bottling it on its own since the 2005 vintage. In a region where dark, inky reds are anything but the norm, it’s easy to see the appeal. Beyond the color — which ultimately has little (no) bearing on a wine’s quality or even intensity — there is even more to like. Standing Stone Vineyards 2013 Saperavi ($30) oozes with plum and blueberry fruit aromas that are accented by a slightly…

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Silver Thread Vineyard 2013 Dry Riesling

In the three-plus years since Paul and Shannon Brock bought and took over Silver Thread Vineyard, they’ve quickly pushed the label’s reputation forward. Paul makes wines in a clean, focused style that is well suited to the region and to the vineyards the couple buys fruit from. Silver Thread Vineyard 2013 Dry Riesling ($18) is made using fruit from a variety of sources — 32% was estate grown fruit on Seneca Lakes, while 33% came from Gridley Bluff Point Vineyard (Keuka Lake), 30% from Doyle East Seneca Vineyard (Seneca Lake) and 5% Randolph O’Neill Vineyard (Cayuga Lake). Crisp and clean, the nose is…

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Weekly New York Wine News — January 26, 2015

NEWS Steuben Courier Advocate – 1/20/2015 New York Wine organizations receive grants totaling nearly $1 Million in to help promote the region, build infrastructure, and support the Wine Bloggers Conference 2015 to be held in Corning, NY. Wine Business – 1/20/2015 Stephanie Jarvis Named Marketing Manager for Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards Cornell Daily Sun – 1/21/2015 The Scientist: Prof. Bruce Reisch Develops New Grape Varieties – cold climate grape breeding continues to bring new options to northern vineyards. Finger Lakes Wine Alliance – 1/21/2015 The Finger Lakes Wine Alliance Board of Directors are proud to announce the hiring of Julie Caplan…

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Keuka Lake Vineyards 2014 Leon Millot Nouveau

Given the popularity of Beaujolais Nouveau every fall, it’s long surprised me how few New York wineries (or American wineries for that matter) have embraced the concept. I mean, most Beaujolais Nouveau is terrible. I’m sure New York wineries can do better. Enter Keuka Lake Vineyards 2014 Leon Millot Nouveau ($18). Keuka Lake Vineyards has a bit of a cult following for it’s non-nouveau Leon Millot — an inky dark, chewy red unlike many from the Finger Lakes. On the other hand, this nouveau is soft and fruity, which red cherry note and just a little little cassis. There is a…

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